February 2016 – Page 4 – Concert Katie

Book Review: Ballpark Eats

Katie February 5, 2016 0 Comments

Ballpark Eats is put together by Sports Illustrated for Kids. It features a few items available at each of the major league ball parks – but unlike other books it also has recipes so you can make them yourself without having to go to the ballpark! This is great news for me because the Peanut Butter Cup Fudge at the Pittsburgh Pirates games looks delicious – but is about 8 hours from me so I’m not sure I’ll ever make it to a game there.

A great book to learn about the ballparks and what kinds of foods they have at the stadiums!

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Forget peanuts and Cracker Jacks! America’s Ballparks now offer a dizzying array of edible options. These make-like stadium recipes give young chefs and sports fans a culinary road trip at home. From the famous fish tacos at the Giants’s AT&T Park in San Francisco to the mouthwatering Cuban sandwich at the Tampa Bay Rays’s Tropicana Field, these diamond dishes are perfect for any seventh-inning stretch. Produced in partnership with Sports Illustrated Kids.
For ages 10-13.
*Written by Katrina Jorgensen, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts *Make-like recipes from 30 Major League baseball stadiums, including famous fish tacos at the Giants’ AT&T Park in San Francisco to the mouthmateringCuban sandwich at the Tampa Bay Ray’s Tropicana Field *Created in collaboration with Sports Illustrated Kids *Perfect for baseball fans or food fans—or both! *Great family book for kids and parents to experience together

Concert SK6ers Throwback Thursday

Throwback Thursday: SK6ers 7/10/07

Katie February 4, 2016 0 Comments

Headliner: Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers
Opener(s): None
Venue: Borders Books , Boston
Cost: Free

Setlist:

Amy
Fourth of July
Glassjaw Boxer
In Front of the World
Big Easy
Start the Day Early

Recap:

I think this is the first vacation day I ever used from work for a concert. (Of course now, almost all of them are used for that!) I had been asking my coworkers how to get to Boston and they had told me… and I ended up calling them asking if we saw the Statue of Liberty if we were going the right way or not. I was of course totally joking but to this day they still swear I was not and got majorly lost. (I suck with directions but not THAT much)

This was an instore performance and signing for the release of Glassjaw Boxer.

Book Review

Book Review: The Girl On The Train

Katie February 3, 2016 0 Comments

girlonthetrain The Girl On The Train seems to be the hot new book to read, several of my friends recommended it to me and I saw several others reading it while I was on vacation in January. So I finally took the time to stop reading my review books to read something for pleasure (and here I am reviewing it anyway!)

This book took me two tries to start – although the first time I was incredibly distracted so I’m not sure if I will count that against it. I did have trouble getting into it at first but was told by my friends to push through – after the first 50 or so pages things pick up, so keep that in mind if you start it and aren’t quite sure the book is going anywhere.

I feel like the write up for this book hypes it up a lot more than it really should. The book is good, it’s an easy read, it’s a bit of a thriller. Some are comparing it to Gone Girl but I don’t think it really should be compared – except that I guess both have a missing person in them? I did like how The Girl On The Train ended a lot more than I liked how Gone Girl ended and Gone Girl as a whole kind of pissed me off whereas The Girl On The Train didn’t really get a strong reaction out of me either way. It didn’t end how I thought it would or in a way that shocked me, but it didn’t end in a non-ending kind of way either. There’s closure.

I think it’s worth a read, or wait for the movie. But don’t think about any of the hype when you go to read it and I think you’ll enjoy it more that way.

About the Book

A debut psychological thriller that will forever change the way you look at other people’s lives.

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

Compulsively readable, The Girl on the Train is an emotionally immersive, Hitchcockian thriller and an electrifying debut.

Product Review

Product Review: Barber Chicken Cordon Bleu

Katie February 2, 2016 0 Comments

I recently got to try the Barber Chicken Cordon Bleu from Barber Foods. It is available in the freezer aisle of most grocery stores and has a few varieties. The chicken is raw so they cannot be microwaved, only cooked in the oven. This was a bummer because I prefer to microwave but since I was not looking to get sick from undercooked chicken, into the oven they went. 2 breasts cook in just about a half an hour. The Cordon Bleu flavor is stuffed with American and Swiss cheese and Ham. I found that there was plenty of cheese (yum) but it was a bit skimpy on the ham. The chicken was good, moist and I enjoyed the breading as well. This is something that I can see myself eating for meals quite often, or just as a special treat.

Product Review

Product Review: Prefer Green Portion Control Containers

Katie February 1, 2016 0 Comments

I have been trying to diet on and off for the last few years with minimal results. I have been told that the key to weight loss is portions. I will be trying out the Prefer Green 7 Piece Portion Control containers that I recently received. They are 100% Leak Proof and help you portion out what you should be eating. They are color coded and come with a guide to help you figure out which food products should be used with which container. I was surprised to see how tiny the dressing container was – I am using much more than that on my salads.

The containers are made of high quality propylene and a BPA and DEHP free. They are dishwasher and microwave save. They fit in side of each other as well, so all you need to store is the 2 containers that are 1-cup in size, the others can all stack inside of each other to save space! Using these will be a bit of a rude awakening for me, but I hope that it can lead to healthier eating habits.

I received a free set of containers in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

Product Review

Product Review: Jammy Jams Pop Goes Lullaby 6

Katie February 1, 2016 0 Comments

This is not the first Jammy Jams lullaby album that I have reviewed and it probably won’t be the last, but I have to say that Pop Goes Lullaby 6 is probably my favorite one yet. I have been having trouble sleeping lately and I was asleep about 4 songs in on this one. It is filled with lullaby (instrumental) versions of some of the most popular songs on Top 40 radio. I honestly didn’t think there would ever be a rendition of Can’t Feel My Face that I would ever enjoy – but one that can help lull me to sleep is definitely something that I am a fan of. Great for babies or adults.

jammyjams

1. Hello (Lullaby Rendition of Adele)
2. Can’t Feel My Face (Lullaby Rendition of The Weeknd)
3. What Do You Mean? (Lullaby Rendition of Justin Bieber)
4. Lean On (Lullaby Rendition of Major Lazer & DJ Snake)
5. Good For You (Lullaby Rendition of Selena Gomez)
6. Elastic Heart (Lullaby Rendition of Sia)
7.Cheerleader (Lullaby Rendition of OMI)
8. Fight Song (Lullaby Rendition of Rachel Platten)
9. The Hills (Lullaby Rendition of The Weeknd)
10. Worth It (Lullaby Rendition of Fifth Harmony)

I received a free copy of this album in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

Available wherever you get your music!
Jammy Jams Store: http://tinyurl.com/jj-022BC
iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/jj-022IT
Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/jj-022AM
Bandcamp: http://tinyurl.com/jj-022BC
Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/jj-022SP
Google Play: http://tinyurl.com/jj-022GP

Product Review

Product Review: Kitchen Gizmo Angry Mama Microwave Cleaner

Katie February 1, 2016 0 Comments

I’ll be honest, I was drawn to this “Angry Mama” because I thought it looked a bit like me. I also live in a house that loves to try out all sorts of new and fun kitchen gizmos and gadgets so I knew we had to try it out. Angry Mama is a plastic container which you fill with white vinegar and water (there are lines on the back to show you where to fill it to). Then you pop it in the microwave for 5-8 minutes. Steam starts to come out of the Angry Mama’s head which softens the junk in the microwave making it really easy to just wipe it clean afterwards.

Angry Mama is innovative and eco-friendly. No chemicals needed – just white vinegar and water. It saves you time scrubbing by doing most of the work for you. It is made with heat resistant materials which means it is durable and Top Rack Dishwasher and (of course) Microwave Safe.

CAUTION: HOT! BEWARE WHEN REMOVING ANGRY MAMA FROM MICROWAVE. USE THE TWO SIDE WINGS TO REMOVE.

I received this product for free in order to try it out and post this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

CD Review

Music Monday: Stephen Kellogg South, West, North, East

Katie February 1, 2016 0 Comments

High Horse (South)
The Wild Heart (South)
The Open Heart (South)
Best of Me (South)
Rich Man (South)
We Say Goodbye (West)
Almost Woke You You (West)
Those Kids (West)
Wallpaper Angel (West)
Mother and Child (West)
Greta Girl (North)
Wolf (North)
Learn To Live (North)
Only Takes a Second (North)
Galaxy (East)
Barricade (East)
H-O-M-E (East)
26 Seconds (of silence) (East)
Last Man Standing (East)

Stephen Kellogg recently did a Pledge Music in order to record his latest record. He did things a bit differently and recorded what could be considered 4 different EPs – one in the South, one in the West, one in the North and one in the East. Each of these locations gave a different kind of inspiration for him to write and record the songs. They work find as 4 separate EPs but what is great about it is they also all work together as a double album as well, which is how it is being released. Those who made a pledge to the campaign through pledge music got the CD to listen to in November, while it will not be officially released until this month. (Those who got tickets to see him on his tour also had the option to purchase as well – the perks of SK being CEO of his record label!)

26 Seconds (of Silence) was written about the 26 who were killed in the shooting in Newtown, CT in December 2012. Stephen, like me, is from Connecticut and was impacted by the tragedy. He ended up posting this song early – as it was not supposed to officially be released until the “East” portion of the CD was released, but with the attacks in Paris he felt that he should release it and encouraged everyone to donate to the American Red Cross.

If you’re wondering just where South, West, North and East were for Stephen when recording – it was Atlanta, GA and Nashville, TN; Boulder, CO; Woodstock, NY; Washington, DC.

Fans of Stephen Kellogg will recognize his song writing and singing that they are familiar with from past records. Stephen’s songs tell stories, usually about his life, but somehow it works out that they can be about your life as well. Some of his songs give advice, others are just fun. If you’re not familiar with Stephen’s work, start here and work your way through the rest of his catalog – both his solo stuff and his work with Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers. I’d be shocked if you ended up not enjoying yourself.

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29